Blank feeding mechanism for extruding machines



Sept. 3, 1935- H. D. SIMKINS ET AL BLANK FEEDING MECHANISM FOR EXTRUDINGMACHINES 3 Sheqts Sheet l ATTORNEYS Sept. 3, 1935. H. o. SIMKINS ET AL2,013,426

BLANK FEEDING MECHANISM FOR EXTRUDING MACHINES Filed Jan. 17, 1931 3Sheets-Sheet 2 9a 9 I Wu Fig.5

fi m/Yer 252M225 A TTORV E Y3 p 1.935- H. D. SIMKINS El AL 2; 0l3',426

BLANK FEEDING MECHANISM FOR EXTRUDING MACHINES Filed Jan. 17, 1931 3Sheets-Sheet 3 I Howard D. I Q's OZJYETPDEZ 0c A TTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 3, 1935 I UNITED STATES BLANK FEEDING MECHANISM FOREXTRUDING MACHINES Howard D. Simkins, Cleveland Heights. and

Oliver P. De Loe, Cleveland,

Ohio

Application January 17, 1931, Serial No. 509,522

15 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved form of mechanism for feedingscrew blanks or the like.

In the present disclosure, this mechanism is employed for feeding screwblanks to an extruding mechanism but it is to be understood that it maybe employed also in combination with other forms of mechanism. In thepresent case, the extruding operation is performed independently andseparately from the thread-forming operation. After the extrudingoperation, the threads are rolled in a separate machine. This means abetter product, as rolled threads are stronger andmore accurate than outthreads. Thus, the present invention covers a less complicated and yetmore efiicient form of machine than heretofore known. It is to beunderstood also that the feeding mechanism here disclosed may bemodified without departing from the spirit of the present invention andall such modifications'or variations are intended to be covered by theaccompanying claims. I

This invention comprises .an improved form of mechanism which willdeliver the blanks one at a time and in rapid succession from the end ofthe chute to the extruding mechanism, and which can be employed foreither short or long blanks.

Another object consists in the provision of a die and operating meanstherefor by which the successive blanks can also be pointedsimultaneously with the extrusion of the same, so as to avoid thenecessity of a separate operation.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description and claimswhen considered together with the accompanying drawings.

- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the present improved form of combinedmechanism; Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the blank feedingmeans; Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 bf Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is asectional view on line 44 of Fig. 1; Figs. 5 and 6 are detail sectionalviews of the rotatable disk associated with the hopper; Fig. 7 is a planview of a portion of the blank feeding means; Fig. 8 is taken on line 88of Fig. 1; and Fig. 9 is taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 2.

The screw blanks are fed from the double hopper within the oppositelydisposed vertical walls I and 2 suitably mounted upon the supportingframe of the machine structure, by means of mechanism now to bedescribed. These blanks which are supplied from the double hopper arereceived in the inclined chute between the walls 2 whilethe other end ofthe chute extends downwardly from the double hopper so as to feed theblanks to the extruding mechanism at the lower end of the chute. Theside walls I and 2 of the hopper and chute are mounted together in pairsso as to be adjustable together toward and from each other for thepurpose of varying the width of the chute for different sizes of blanksto be fed therealong Virtually, the blanks are fed simultawusly from apair of hoppers into the same adjustable chute provided between theadjacent inner walls of the companion hoppers. This adjustment is madeby means of the threaded members 3 which engage the base portions of thehopper sides I and which are mounted in the flanges 4 upon the framestructure; and there are provided also the set screws 5 for locking thesame in the position to which they are-adjusted. This adjustment will befurther explained below.

Upon each side of the chute within the hopper, there is provided anoscillating member 6 which has movement up and down within the hopperalong side the opposite walls 2 of the chute so as to feed the blanksfrom the hopper onto the top of the chute. As clearly indicated in Fig.4, the top edges of the oscillating members 6 are inclined inwardly anddownwardly so as to facilitate the feeding of the blanks to the chute,and the top edges of the chute upon the opposite sides thereof are alsoinclined downwardly and inwardly for the same purpose. The blanks areintended to be fed in this manner to the top of the chute so that theshanks thereof will find their way down into the chute with the headsthereof resting upon the top of the chute for feeding in such positiontherealong- As a means of preventing the blanks from sticking in thechute and for the purpose also of facilitating the settling of theshanks of the blanks in the chute, we have provided the rotatablymounted disk 1 for cooperation with the chute at the point approximatelywhere the chute extends through the front wall of the hopper. Thisrotatable disk or kicker is mounted upon the shaft 8 for operation by amechanism to be later explained. The disk 1 is connected with itsoperating mechanism for operation in a counterclockwise direction, asviewed in Fig. 1, and is provided with four projecting teeth 9 locatedat 90 thereabout. The forward edges of the teeth 9, as indicated at 9,are squared so as to effectively engage the blanks for removal of thesame from the chute in case they have not already found their way intoproper position within the chute. The other edges of the members 9, asindicated at 9 are beveled so as to facilitate rotation of the same, thetop edges of the walls of the chute being rec ssed as indicated at Ill,to accommodate the otation of the disk I with the teeth 9. Th disk 1 isprovided also with oppositely disposed pairs of adjustable fingers ll.These fingers II are positioned diametrically with respect to the disk 1and are adapted for adjustment by means of the screw l2 which extendsdiametrically of the disk I and engages at its two ds the inner surfacesof the oppositely dispose fingers Ii. The screw I 2 is reverselythreaded upon its two end portions so that upon rotation of the screw inone direction, the fingers engaged by the two ends thereof will beadjusted in opposite directions. In this way, the fingers may be movedeither outwardly or inwardly by adjustment of the screw 2. The middleunthreaded cut-out portion of the screw 2 is adapted for lockingengagement by the plain, reduced end portions of the oppositely disposedset screws l3 which extend diametrically in the disk I, and access maybe had thereto from opposite points thereof. Upon loosening the screws13, but without withdrawing the reduced ends thereof from the annularrecess or cut-away portion of the screw I2, the adjustment of the screwI2 may be effected in the manner already explained and may then be setin such adjusted position by means of the set screws I3. As will be seenfrom Fig. 5, the projections rotate in planes corresponding with theinner edge portions of'the walls 2 of the chute, and just above the samein order to engage the blanks which might have lodged upon the top ofthe chute and thereby precipitate the same toward the chute so that theymay fall thereinto. However, as above stated, any blanks which do ,notfind their way into the chute, will be returned to the hopper by thekicking action of the teeth 9. Extending just above the top of the chuteand immediately over the space provided therein, there is pr vided thestrip 4 as a means of retaining th blanks in the chute as they are fedtherealong. The one end of the strip l4 terminates in the region of thedisk 1 and is beveled upon its lower side at the upper end thereof, asindicated by reference numeral I5, for the purpose of facilitating thepassage of the heads of the blanks as they settle within the chute intheir progression past this point.

The means for operating the oscillating arms within the hopper, and therotatable disk I will now be described. The drive wheel I! which may bedriven by belt connection from any suitable source of power, operatesthe chain of pinions and gears indicated by reference numerals l8, I9,20, and 2|. Upon the shaft of the gear 2| are mounted a pair ofeccentrics 22 and 23 which have connections 24 and 25 with the leverarms 26 and 21 which carry the oscillating members 6 for raising andlowering the same in alternate succession, as already indicated. Both ofthe levers 26 and 21 are mounted for such rocking The arms 2e and 21 areadapted for lateral adjustment along the axis 28 and with them the sidesI and 2 of the hopper, the arms 26 and 21 being formed with yokeportions, as illustrated in Fig. 3. Extending across these yoke portionsare the rods which afford pivotal actuating connection for the operatingarms 24 and 25. Thus, there is aiforded'variation in the width'of thechute, as referred to above.

The fly wheel I! is provided with a sprocket upon its shaft which, bymeans of the belt indicated in Fig. 1, drives the disk I in thedirection and for the purpose already explained, the disk I beingsuitably mounted on axis 3 in the machine structure, as indicated in thedrawings.

With the mechanism already described, the

. the oscillating members 6. By means of the rotating disk and the meansprovided thereon, the blanks are then assisted in finding their way intothe chute, while those which would otherwise still rest upon the top ofthe chute and thereby clog the entrance thereto, are kicked back intothe two sides of the hopper by means of the two pairs of teeth ,9provided upon the disk for this purpose. In the normal operation ofthemachine, the blanks which are thus fed into the chute will besuspended therefrom by means of their heads which extend across the topof the chute and will descend by gravity down the chute which issufiiciently inclined for this purpose. As a means of preventing theblanks which are kicked back by the disk 1 from being thrown upwardlyand possibly out of the hopper, I have provided the deflecting stripwhich extends across the inside of the hopper in the region of the disk1, as indicated in Fig. l.

- Just beyond the lower end of the chu there is located the extrudingmechanism which comprises the reciprocating die holder 32 and theextruding die 33 adapted to receive the screw blanks in succession forprojection thereby against the stationary member 34 mounted in the frameof the machine structure. The die 33 is adapted to receive the shank ofthe screw blank as it is fed thereto by means of an improved form ofmechanism'to be later described. In the present illustration, there isincluded also a die 33 which is adapted to point the end of the blank bythe same operation, that is, to bevel the corner edge of the endthereof. The combination of dies which makes possible the simultaneousperformance of these two operations upon the screw blank is illustratedin Fig. 9 of the drawings. The necessary spacers will of course beemployed in association with the die or dies. And it is to be understoodthat in this machine there may be employed only the die 33 forperforming only the extruding operation, or there may be employed onlythe pointing die 33 for performing only the pointing operation, or theremay be employed both the extruding die and pointing die for performingthe two operations at the same time. The means for reciprocating the dieholder 32 with the die or diescomprises an eccentric 36 which is mountedupon the shaft 35 .with suitable operating lever connection 36 with thedie holder. The shaft 35 is in turn operated by means of the gear 31which meshes with the gear 38 upon the shaft of the flywheel Mountedalso upon the shaft 35, there is provided the cam 39 which engages theroller 46 upon the lower end of the operating arm 4| which is connectedat its other end to the lever 42 pivotally mounted upon the axis 43 inthe machine frame. The free end of the lever arm 42 is provided with thespring 44 which is anchored in the frame of the machine and which isadapted to normally force the leverarm 42 in counter-clockwise directionabout the axis 43, as viewed in Fig. 1. The action of the cam 39 is torotate the connection to the lower projection provided upon the underside of the slidable carriage 46 which is located belowthe chute andwhich is adapted to be given sliding movement thereby within thestationary slide-way 41 oppositely arranged in the machine frame. Theslide member 46 carries a mechanism which is actuated by such slidingmovement for the delivery ofv the blanks one at a time from the lowerend of the chute to the die of the extruding mechanism. This mechanismfor deliveringthe blanks will now be described.

Referring to Fig. 7, it will be seen that upon the slidable carriage 46there are provided a pair of oppositely disposed adjustable cooperatingfingers. 48 and 48 for delivering the individual screw blanks one at atime in rapid succession movement toward and from the same by virtue ofV the lengthened bolts 49 which extend through holes in the finger 49.This finger has its forward endbent inwardly and forwardly, asindicated, and the end of the chute wall 2 is correspondingly formed atthis point. As indicated in Fig. 7, the bent end portion of the finger49 extends partially across the mouth of the chute so as to enable theforward-most blank to rest temporarily thereagainst and to support theremaining blanks in the chute during the delivery of the forward blankby the fingers 48, 48 The finger 49 is maintained in such position bymeans of the coil spring 50 which is mounted upon the side of the wall 2of the chute.

Upon the opposite side of the carriage 46 there is pivotally mountedabout thegaxis 5| the arm 52 which has mounted upon its forward end inan adjustable manner the clampng finger 48, already referred to. Theforward end of the finger 48 is notched so as to engage about the shankportion of the screw blank. Thus, with the cooperative action ofthefingers 48 and 48 there is effected a three-point engagement of theshank of the screw blank as it is removed from the delivery end of thechute. The lever arm '52 is normally actuated by the coil spring 54 soas to force the finger 48 into position for engagement with the screwblank. That is, the influence of the spring 54 is in clockwise directionabout the axis 5|. The spring 54 surrounds a pin which is mounted uponthe lever arm 52 provided at its one end with an abutment 55 ';way 41.The roller 56 upon being-advanced to-,

ward the left, as viewed in Fig. 7, will engage the cam shoulder5'l andcause such turning movement of the plate 58 which is then looked in suchposition by the engagement of the shoulder 60 over the cooperatingshoulder 6| of the companion plate 62. This plate 62 is pivotallymounted at 63 on the guide-way 41 and is normally turnedincounter-clockwise direction about theaxis 63 by means of the spring 64which has. its one and anchored to the guide-way 41, while its other endengages overthe hook 65 upon the end of the member 62. 7

Thus, as the carriage 46 is advanced toward the left, as viewed in Fig.'1, the blank engaged between the fingers 48 and 48' will be deliveredthereby past the finger 49 which is caused to I recede from the path ofthe blank but which at once returns to its former position. The roller56 will at the proper moment engage the cam shouldern5l so as to causethe plate 58 to be the finger 48 will snap'out of engagement with theblank and return for engagement with the next blank. As the finger 48approaches the end of the chute, engagement of roller 56 with the rearportion of plate 58 causes the finger 48 to be withdrawn preparatory toengaging'the fore most blank. Then when roller 66 abuts projection 66,arm 62 is turned in clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 7, so as torelease the shoulder 6| from engagement with the shoulder 68, whereuponthe spring 54 will instantaneously return finger 48 to engagingposition. Spring 64 turns lever 62 in counter-clockwisedirection and atthe and 6| are then in disengaged position and the finger 48 which hasnow been returned to engaging position with respect to the next orforemost blank in the chute, is now in proper co-operative position withthe finger 48 for repetition of the,

same operations already described.

As the blanks are fed by gravity down the inclined chute, there isherein provided a means for relieving the blanks in the lower part ofthe chute from the increased pressure which wouldotherwise be exerted bythe weight'of the blanks in the upper part of the chute restingthereupon; This is for the purpose of preventing" accidental dischargeof the blanks from the end of the chute during the period when thefingers 48 and 48 are delivering the foremost blank to the extruding dieand when the finger 49 is released. This means comprises the fingers 61and 68 adjustably mounted upon the rock arm 69 which is rockably mountedabout the. axis 18. This arm is mounted upon the fixed guide-way 41, andthe roller H is caused to ride down the incline 12 on the rear end ofthe arm 13, upon the forward end of which is mounted the adjustablefinger 48 already referred to. The movement of the roller 'll along theshoulder 12 is effected by means of a coil spring 15 which engages theleft handand portion of the lever 69, as viewed in Fig. 7. Such actioncauses the forward finger 61 to be withdrawn from the chute and the rearfinger68 to be inserted between two adjacent blanks in the chute. Aswill be seen,-the finger 61 extends across the chute, while the finger68 is in withdrawn position, according to thecondition illustrated inFig. 7. These fingers are mounted upon the lever 69 at opposite pointswith respect to the pivotal axis 18 so that they will be movedalternately into position across the chute. In the position illustratedin Fig. 7, the blanks in the has previously occupied position just tothe rear behind the new blank, which is being advanced,

will exert more or less forward movement upon the blanks along the lowerpart of the chute so as to prevent sticking of the same in the chute. I

With the improved form of double hopper a d blank-feeding means, theblanks will be fed at a considerably increased rate of supply from thedouble hopper to the chute by virtue of the alternately reciprocatingpair of elevating members upon the two'sides of the chute. These membersare counterbalanced and will not stick. Also, with the improvedform ofrotating disk, the blanks are not only enabled to more readily findtheir way into the chute, but also the kicker disk will return theblanks which would otherwise clog the chute, to the two sides of thehopper and as a result, there is avoided any accumulation of the blanksin what has been commonly experienced as a dead spot in this part of thehopper in prior constructions.- Furthermore, the mechanism provided fordelivery of the blanks one at a time from the lower end of the chute tothe extruding mechanism is capable of operation at a comparativelyincreased speed. Thus, with the combined operations of the blank-feedingmeans and the blank-delivering means, together with the extruding andpointing operations, in a unitary machine structure, there is provided acomplete, single form of device in which there is realized aconsiderable increase in the quantity production; and moreover, themechanism for performing these operations 'is of a comparatively simplenature and not apt to get out of order. The mechanism is extremelydependable, the emciency'greatly increased, and there is produced ahigher degree of quality so far as the finished product is concerned.and at a reduced cost. As above explained, the mechanism hereindisclosed may be employed for performing either or both of the extrudingand pointing operations.

Also, the particular blank feeding mechanism herein set forth may beemployed in connection with other forms of mechanism than that forextruding and/or pointing blanks, and the scope of this application isto be so understood.

What we claim is: 1. In a machine for extruding screw blanks, thecombination of a straight-line chute for feeding the blanks, anextruding mechanism located .in straight line with said chute,reciprocating means for transferring the blanks forwardly along acontinued straight path from the chute to the extruding mechanism, andmeans for said mechanism.

' 2. In a machine for extruding screw blanks, the combination of astraight-line chute for feeding the blanks, an extruding mechanismlocated in straight line with said chute, blank-transferring meansadapted for reciprocating movement along a path parallel to the chuteand being adapted to transfer the blanks in succession forwardly along acontinued straight path from the chute.

the combination of a straight-line chute forfeeding the blanks, anextruding mechanism located in straight line with said chute,reciprocatable means for automatically gripping a blank at the operatingdelivery} end urine chute, and transferring the same a ong a continuedstraight'path from the the extruding mechanism and there I chute t g I Ireleasin the blank'from engagement by the said gripping eans, wherebythe blanks will be trans ferred successively and forwardly 'along thesame path from the chutefor the extruding'operation, and means foroperating said mechanism.

"4. In a machine of the class described, the combination of astraight-line chute for feeding blanks, an operating mechanism locatedin straight line with said chute, a'slide-way arranged beneath the chuteand parallel thereto, means reciprocatable along said slide-way fortransferring the blanks in successionforwardly along a continuedstraight path from the chute to the said mechanism, said transferringmeans including a cam and spring for effecting engagement of thetransferring'means with a blank from the end of the chute, and' said cambeing actuated by the movement of said reciprocatable means along theslide-way.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of astraight-line chute for feeding blanks, an operating mechanism locatedin straight line with said chute for receiving blanks therefrom,reciprocatable means for transferring a blank forwardly along acontinued straight path from the end of the chute to a position toherece ved bysaid mechanism, means for permitting the transferring meansto return upon engagement of the blank in said mechanism, and releasablemeans for preventing escape of the following blanks from the end of thechute during operation of said blank-transferring means.

6. In a machine for extruding screw blanks, the combination of astraight-line chute for feeding the blanks, an extruding mechanismlocated in line with said chute, reciprocating means for transferringthe blanks with a positive forward movement from the chute along acontinued straight path to the extruding mechanism, means actuated bythe movement of said reciprocating means for engaging the blanks so asto prevent the same from sticking in'the chute, and means for operatingsaid extruding mechanism and said blank-delivering means in properlytimed relation.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination of astraight-line chute for feeding screw blanks, an extruding mechanismincluding a pointing die located in straight line with said chute,reciprocating means having continued straight line movement fortransferring the blanks from the chute to said mechanism, and means foroperating the same so as to thereby point the end of the blank by theextruding operation.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination of astraight-line chute, means for supplying blanks to said chute, amechanism adapted to receive the blanks from said chute, and meansreciprocatable along said chute for transferring the blanks insuccession from the end of the chute to said mechanism, saidtransferring means including a plurality of reciprocatable fingers forengaging the foremost blank at the end of the chute, one of said fingersbeing mounted for lateral movement towards and from blankengagingposition, a spring for normally forcing said finger into blank-engagingposition, cam

- means for effecting rearward lateral movement of the finger, and meanswhereby forward movement of said finger will set said cam in positionfor effecting such lateral actuation of said finger and rearwardmovement beyond a predetermined point of said finger will release saidcam from such set position.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination of astraight-line chute, means for supplying blanks to said chute, amechanism adapted to receive the blanks from said chute, and meansreciprocatable along said chute for transferring the blanks insuccession from the end of the chute to said mechanism, saidtransferring means including a plurality of reciprocatable fingers forengaging the foremost blank at the end of the chute, said fingers beingarranged to engage the opposite sides of each successive blank at theend of the chute, one of said fingers being mounted for lateral movementtowards and from blankengaging position, a spring for normally forcingsaid finger into blank-engaging position, cam means for effectingrearward lateral movement of the finger, means whereby forward movementof said finger will set said cam in position for effecting such lateralactuation of said finger and rearward movement beyond a predeterminedpoint of said finger will release said cam from such set position, andautomatically releasable means located upon the opposite side of thechute for maintaining the foremost blank against accidental dischargefrom the end thereof, said releasable means being automaticallydisengaged by the transferring action of the foremost blank from the endof the chute.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination of astraight-line chute, means for supplying blanks to said chute, amechanism adapted to receive the blanks from said chute, and meansreciprocatable along said chute for transferring the blanks insuccession from the end of the chute to said mechanism, saidtransferring means including a plurality of reciprocatable fingers for 1engaging the foremost blank at the end of the chute, one of said fingershaving a recessed end for engagement of the blank and being mounted forlateral movement towards and from blankengaging position, means fornormally forcing said finger into blank-engaging position, cam means foreffecting rearward lateral movement of the finger so as to permitengagement of the same with the next blank, the other of said fingershaving a plain end for engaging the blank upon the opposite sidethereof, means whereby forward movement of said finger will set said cammeans in position for effecting such lateral actuation of said recessedfinger and rearward movement of said finger beyond a predetermined pointwill release said cam means from such set position,and means formaintaining the next blank in foremost position at the end of the chuteduring discharging movement of said fingers.

11. In a device of the class described, the combination of astraight-line chute, means for supplying blanks to said chute, amechanism adapted to receive the blanks from said chute, and meansreciprocatable along said chute and along a continued straight path fortransferring the blanks in succession from the end of the chute to saidmechanism, said transferring means including a plurality ofreciprocatable fingers for engaging the foremost blank at the end of thechute, said fingers being arranged to engage the opposite sides of eachsuccessive blank at the end of the chute, and automatically releasablemeans located upon one side of the chute for maintaining the foremostblank against accidental discharge from the end thereof, said releasablemeans being automatically disengaged by the transferring action of theforemost blank from the end of the chute.

12. In a device of the class described, the combination of astraight-line chute, means for supplying blanks to said chute, amechanism adapted to receive the blanks from said chute, and meansreciprocatable along said chute and along a con tinued straight path fortransferring the blanks in succession from the end of the chute to saidmechanism, said transferring means including a plurality ofreciprocatable fingers for engaging the foremost blank at the end of thechute, said fingers being arranged to engage the opposite sides of eachsuccessive blank at the end of the chute, and automatically releasablemeans located upon one side of the chute for maintaining the foremostblank against accidental discharge from the end thereof, said releasablemeans having spring means for holding the same in engaging position andbeing automatically disengaged by the transferring action of theforemost blank from the end of the chute.

13. In a device of the class described, the combination of a chute,means for supplying blanks to the chute, a mechanism adapted to receivethe blanks from the chute, means for transferring the blanks insuccession from the end of the chute to said mechanism, means actuatedby said transferring means for engaging the blanks so as to prevent thesame from sticking in the chute, and automatically releasable meanslocated upon one side of the chute and having means for holding the samein engaging position immediately in front of the foremost blank andbeing automatically disengaged by the transferring action of theforemost blank from the end of the chute.

14. In a device of the class described, the combination of a chute forfeeding blanks, a mechanism adapted to receive the transferring theblanks from the chute to the mechanism. a pair of fingers locatedentirely upon one side of said chute and adapted to extend alternatelyacross the path of the blanks in the chute, said fingers being spacedfrom each other at a distance corresponding approximately with thediameter of a blank, and means actuated by the said transferring meansfor alternately engaging said fingers in front of and to the rear of agiven blank, respectively, vent the blanks from sticking in the chute.

15. In a device of the class described, the combination of a chute forfeeding blanks, a mechanism adapted to receive the blanks, means fortransferring the blanks from the chute to the mechanism, a pair offingers located entirely upon one side of said chute and adapted toextend alternately across the path of the blanks in the chute, saidfingers being spaced from each other at a distance correspondingapproximately with the diameter of a blank, one of said fingersextending beyond the end of the other and both of said fingers beingmounted together for movement back and forth about an axis so as tocause said fingers to alternately engage in front of and to the rear ofa given blank, respectively, and means actuated by said transferringmechanism for manipulating said fingers about said axis of movement,whereby the blanks are released one at a time and they are preventedfrom sticking in the chute.

' HOWARD D. SIMKINS.

OLIVER P. DE LOE.

blanks, means for soas thereby to pre-

